Method and apparatus for controlling selection of batteries

Abstract

In a battery-driven computer system, a flip-flop circuit selects one of two switches for switching a power supply to the computer system in accordance with the terminal voltages of batteries detected by detecting circuits. When the first switch is switched on, the first battery coupled to the first switch supplies its power to the computer system. In this case, the second switch is switched off and the power from the second battery coupled to the second switch is not supplied to the computer system. When the terminal voltage of the first battgnal representing the power condition of the batteries.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for supplying power to a device, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal;   detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries;   means for selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the device while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery;   means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and for isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery;   means for reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage; and   signaling means for signaling a power condition of the first battery when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes comparing means for comparing voltages of the batteries with the predetermined voltage. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling means includes light-indicating means for representing the power condition of the first battery. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling means includes voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signaling means includes: light-indicating means for providing alight indication representing the power condition of the first battery; and   voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and wherein the means for selecting the second battery includes   means for isolating the first battery in response to the first signal.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and a second signal to indicate a voltage level of the second battery, and wherein the means for selecting the second battery includes   means for isolating the first battery in response to the first and second signals.   
     
     
       8. An information processing system comprising: a computer system;   a plurality of batteries for supplying power to the computer system, each battery having a terminal;   detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries; and   means for selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the computer system while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery;   means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the computer system, and for isolating the first battery from the computer system while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery;   means for reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage; and   signaling means for signaling a power condition of the first battery when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detecting means includes comparing means for comparing voltages of the batteries with the predetermined voltage. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the signaling means includes light-indicating means for representing the power condition of the first battery. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the signaling means includes voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the signaling means includes: light-indicating means for providing a light indication representing the power condition of the first battery and   voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and wherein the means for selecting the second battery includes   means for isolating the first battery in response to the first signal.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detecting means includes means for generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and a second signal to indicate a voltage level of the second battery, and wherein the means for selecting the second battery includes   means for isolating the first battery in response to the first and second signals.   
     
     
       15. In a system having a device and a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal, a method for supplying power to the device, the method comprising the steps of: detecting voltages of the plurality of batteries;   selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the device while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery;   selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery;   reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage; and   signaling a power condition of the first battery when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage.   
     
     
       16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the detecting step includes the step of comparing voltages of the batteries with the predetermined voltage. 
     
     
       17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the signaling step includes the step of providing a light indication representing the power condition of the first battery. 
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the signalling step includes the step of voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery. 
     
     
       19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the signaling step includes the steps of: providing a light indication representing the power condition of the first battery; and   voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery.   
     
     
       20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the detecting step includes the substep of generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and wherein the step of selecting the second battery includes the substep of   isolating the first battery in response to the first signal.   
     
     
       21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the detecting step includes the substep of generating a first signal to indicate a voltage level of the first battery, and a second signal to indicate a voltage level of the second battery, and wherein the step of selecting the second battery includes   isolating the first battery in response to the first and second signals.   
     
     
       22. An apparatus for supplying power to a device, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal;   detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries;   calculating means for calculating power consumption of the first battery from the detected voltages in the first battery, to obtain remaining power of the first battery; and   means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the remaining power in the first battery is less than a predetermined power, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and for isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; and   signaling means for signaling a power condition of the first battery when the obtained remaining power is less than the predetermined power.   
     
     
       23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises displaying means for displaying the remaining power obtained by the calculating means. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the signaling means includes light-display mans for representing the power condition of the first battery. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the signaling means includes voice-outputting means for voice-outputting a signal representing the power condition of the first battery. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the calculating means further includes means for calculating power consumption of the second battery from the detected voltages in the second battery, to obtain remaining power of the second battery.   
     
     
       27. An apparatus for supplying power to a device, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal;   detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries;   means for selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the device while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery;   means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and for isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; and   means for reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage.   
     
     
       28. An information processing system comprising: a computer system;   a plurality of batteries for supplying power to the computer system, each battery having a terminal;   detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries;   means for selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the computer system while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery;   means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the computer system, and for isolating the first battery from the computer system while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; and   means for reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage.   
     
     
       29. An apparatus for supplying power to a device, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal;   detecting means for detecting voltages of the batteries;   calculating means for calculating power consumption of the first battery from the detected voltages in the first battery, to obtain remaining power of the first battery; and   means for selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the remaining power in the first battery is less than a predetermined power, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and for isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery.   
     
     
       30. In a system having a device and a plurality of batteries, each battery having a terminal, a method for supplying power to the device, the method comprising the steps of: detecting voltages of the plurality of batteries;   selecting a first battery from the plurality of batteries when a detected voltage in the first battery is larger than a predetermined voltage, to supply power from the first battery to the device while conducting a positive current through the terminal of the first battery;   selecting a second battery from the plurality of batteries when the detected voltage in the first battery is less than the predetermined voltage, to supply power from the second battery to the device, and isolating the first battery from the device while conducting a current no less than zero through the terminal of the first battery; and   reselecting the first battery when the detected voltage in the second battery is less than the predetermined voltage.   
     
     
       31. An apparatus for supplying power to a device, the apparatus comprising: first and second batteries for supplying power to the device;   first detecting means for detecting a voltage of the first battery;   second detecting means for detecting a voltage of the second battery;   first signaling means, responsive to the first detecting means, for signaling a power condition of the first battery; and   second signaling means, responsive to the second detecting means, for signaling a power condition of the second battery.   
     
     
       32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first and second signaling means each includes a light emitting diode for signaling a low battery state. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the first and second signaling means each includes a light emitting diode; and   a speaker for signaling.   
     
     
       34. The apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising display means for displaying remaining energies of the first and second batteries; 
     
     
       35. An information processing system comprising: a computer system;   first and second batteries for supplying power to the computer system;   first detecting means for detecting a voltage to the first battery;   second detecting means for detecting a voltage of the second battery;   first signaling means, responsive to the first detecting means, for signaling a power condition of the first battery; and   second signaling means, responsive to the second detecting means, for signaling a power condition of the second battery.   
     
     
       36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first and second signaling means each includes a light emitting diode for signaling a low battery state. 
     
     
       37. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first and second signaling means each includes a light emitting diode; and   a speaker.   
     
     
       38. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising display means for displaying remaining energies of the first and second batteries. 
     
     
       39. An apparatus for supplying power to a device, the apparatus comprising: first and second batteries for supplying power to the device;   first detecting means for detecting a power dissipation of the first battery;   second detecting means for detecting a power dissipation of the second battery;   computing means, responsive to the first and second detecting means, for computing respective remaining capacities of the first and second batteries; and   displaying means for displaying the respective remaining capacities of the first and second batteries.   
     
     
       40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the computing means comprises a central processing unit. 
     
     
       41. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the displaying means includes means for displaying a ratio of remaining energies to initial energies of the first and second batteries. 
     
     
       42. An information processing system, comprising: a computer system;   first and second batteries for supplying power to the computer system;   first detecting means for detecting a power dissipation of the first battery;   second detecting means for detecting a power dissipation of the second battery;   computing means, responsive to the first and second detecting means, for computing remaining respective capacities of the first and second batteries; and   displaying means for displaying the respective remaining capacities of the first and second batteries.   
     
     
       43. The system according to claim 42, wherein the computing means comprises a central processing unit. 
     
     
       44. The system according to claim 42, wherein the displaying means includes means for displaying a ratio of remaining energies to initial energies of the first and second batteries.